Patel, who was convicted in March, could have received the maximum of 40 years. He was charged in July 2001 with solicitation of murder for hire after he was videotaped offering a Northfield officer $525 to kill his wife.

Assistant State's Atty. Daniel Weiss said Patel and his wife were in an arranged marriage strained by debt and accusations of infidelity. Weiss said Patel was arrested after one of his co-workers told police Patel had asked her for help finding someone to kill his wife.